Will Nokia Lumia 1020 kill Samsung S4 zoom? Critics say it could

Nokia has effectively put the ‘mega’ back into mega pixel, with the launch of its Lumia 1020, a device with a 40MP camera made no less impressive by the many leaks surrounding the device.

The phone was unveiled in New York yesterday but there was no real element of surprise, given that the specs had been known for some months now.

However tech critics are taking nothing away from the device despite its steep $299 price tag, with CNet saying that with the device “you have an interesting camera story that — Nokia hopes — will run Samsung’s 16-megapixelGalaxy S4 Zoom smartphone camerainto the ground.”

The CNet reviewer was impressed with the phone, praising not just the camera, and the fidelity in the way the 40MP photographs were translated to 5MP images in cropped photos, but also the build of the phone itself.

In conclusion it says,

Nokia Lumia 1020 in this photo. AP

Nokia has certainly made good on its promise to produce Windows Phone devices at every price point. Yet with the Lumia 1020 being unveiled so soon after theLumia 925 global flagshipandVerizon’s 928 variant, Nokia is now out and out flooding the market.

Still, it’s hard not to get excited about a modern smartphone powerful enough to replace your point-and-shoot, and possibly even your dSLR. The $300 asking price is a high one; we haven’t seen costs like this for some years. However, Nokia is betting on folks seeing the value of a true two-in-one device and making an investment.

TechCrunchfor its part, also says that the 1020 definitely seems like a Windows Phone ‘worth your consideration’.

The review by Chris Velazco says, “Is the Lumia 1020 going to be for everyone? Obviously not. Can it succeed in a very competitive marketplace? It’s far too early to answer that question, but based on my time playing with it, there’s nothing there that would necessarily disqualify it from success.”

The Next Web is not quite so impressed by the device however. In a small but snarky review, it says, “As far as first impressions go, the Lumia 1020is certainly easy on the eyes, packs an impressive camera, and feels quite sturdy. Unfortunately, these are the only selling points for the device, which otherwise relies on Windows Phone 8 to stand out in the face of fierce competition from Android OEMs and Apple.”

The Lumia 1020 comes with a 2000 mAh battery. It does not include built-in wireless charging, but it supports wireless charging via an attachable cover. The phone has 32GB of internal memory, and the company is also offering 7GB free SkyDrive cloud storage.

The 41-megapixel camera:

Using a new feature called dual capture, the Nokia Lumia 1020 simultaneously takes a high resolution 38 megapixel image for endless editing opportunities, and creates a 5 megapixel picture that is easy to share to social networks with Windows Phone 8.

According toCNET,the Windows 8 phone will sell exclusively in the US at AT&T for a hefty $299.99 with two-year contract. Preorders begin July 16th, with the Lumia 1020 becoming available online and in stores July 26th.

The phone is expected to arrive in China and key European markets this quarter. Nokia plans to ship an exclusive variant of the device with Telefonica to select European and Latin American markets.